Successful pregnancies with uterine leiomyomas and myomectomy at the time of caesarean section.

OBJECTIVE To ascertain the impact of uterine leiomyomas on pregnancy outcome, and to determine the effectiveness of myomectomy at the time of caesarean delivery. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on pregnant women with uterine leiomyomas. Clinical information including the course of the pregnancy, mode of delivery, pathology findings, and postpartum course were extracted from medical records and analysed for statistical significance. RESULTS There were 50 pregnancies associated with uterine leiomyomas. During pregnancy, the leiomyomas grew >2 cm in 46% of cases. Only 6% were affected by symptoms of red degeneration. There were 2% mid trimester inductions of labour, 6% vaginal deliveries, and 92% caesarean sections. Of the 46 caesarean sections, 47% were due to obstetrical factors and 89% of patients underwent myomectomy at the time of caesarean delivery. The mean blood loss from myomectomy at the time of caesarean section was 260 ml (200-700 ml), and 5% of patients who underwent myomectomy were transfused. CONCLUSIONS It is possible to carry a pregnancy successfully to term when the pregnancy is complicated by uterine leiomyomas. When caesarean delivery is needed, myomectomy can be performed at the time of caesarean section routinely without significant complications.